Giant killing -- Petes are making a habit of it
First it was Isipathana. Then it was Trinity. The Peterites, who have been quite ordinary at times, continued their role of giant killers by dumping the one unbeaten side, Trinity, by 15 points (a goal, a try and a penalty) to 13 (a penalty try, a try and a penalty) in a rousing game that could have gone either way at the end at Bambalapitya yesterday.
Coach Colin Denish had wrung the changes in an obvious show of dissatisfaction with the team’s results. Most impressive of the newcomers was little Jason Karunaratne. Small in size, but very big in deed, he played his heart out completely unfazed by the size or reputation of the visitors.
There was near chaos in the last 15 minutes or so. A part of the crowd was baying for the referee’s blood. The Trinitians had thrown every player into the fray and the Peterites were straining every nerve and sinew to defend a precious lead of two points. Time seemed to be of no consequence as there were frequent referrals to the TM official and stoppages without number.
The Peterites cannot be traced too highly for their efforts. From the start of the game almost they upped the ante by attacking and defending furiously. Skipper Diyath Fernando playing at centre was cool yet inspirational. Lock Umar Mohideen was another who was tremendous. One of the Peterite tries was made possible by his quickness and brilliance as he pounced on a loose ball on the goal line to frustrate Trinity’s efforts to clear it.
Dilusha Dange was excellent though he didn’t score. He made several bursts down the centre and it took three or four defenders to stop it. Scrum half Anuka Boyagoda did all the hard yards for Warren Weerakone to touch down late in the game. Alas it was disallowed by the TMO.
The first half lacked a bit in quality, as fumbles, dropped passes and technical defects were much in evidence. Lasan Wijesuriya put his team ahead by converting an early penalty. The Peterites stormed back at once. Stephen Sivaraj made an exciting break, but slipped and fell 20 yards short of the line. The home team was playing inspired rugby at this stage, and the Trinitians unused to that kind of pressure, faltered.
Unthinkingly, a Peterite ‘hit’ the ball out of play when under pressure in the in goal area. The penalty try that was awarded was not converted. Sivaraj reduced the lead with a penalty to make it 8-3 at the break.
They scored from a scrum about 15 yards out. The ball came out Trinity’s way, but Mohideen smothered the Trinity player to enable Deshan Fernando to score. The home team was now in the lead 10- 8 as a result of Sivaraj’s conversion.
A little later, Ravin Fernando drove the knife in further by going over off a scrum. Sivaraj failed to deliver. The Trinitians kept attacking with time running out. Akitha Sakalasuriya was able to creep through to a touch down. Bandaranayake’s kick. which would have tied the score, went astray.
Jubilation took over as Peterites young and old swamped the ground to hug their heroes. This was one of the longest school matches which I have watched. Referee – Dinka Pieris